Slide-fastened closure construction for rigid containers



. N. A. FOWLER March 21, 1944.

SLIDE-FASTENED CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR RIGID CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. Wat fl Fowler, By

' Arrok Mach 21, 1944. N A FOWL R 2,344,861

SLIDE-FASTENED CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR RIGID CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 9, 1940 2 She ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

IVE/L A TTORNEY- Patented Mar. 21, 1944 SLIDE-FASTENED CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOB RIGID CONTAINERS Neil A. Fowler, River Forest, 111., minor to t eral Box Company, Chicago. 111., a co of Delaware Application October s, 1940, Serial No. 360,433 8 Claims. (01. 211-42) This invention relates to slide-fastened closure constructions and,in particular, to'the provision of newand improved sllde-lastened closure constructions for containers or the like, such-as shipping containers, hogsheads, mothproof cabinets, etc., which are formed of rigid, inflexible materials.

It is an object of this invention to provide such a closure construction wherein a pair of cooperating slide-fastened stringers are flxed to relatively rigid members at opposite sides of the closure-opening, which stringers may be readily and conveniently coupled and uncoupled by the use of a slider or other coupling device or tool for detachably connecting the members together to provide a convenient, quick operating closure.

It is a further obiect of this invention to provide such a closure construction wherein the slide fastener is protected from abrasion and other damage upon contact of the container or the like with supporting surfaces or other objects, and

' wherein adequate clearance is provided for ease and convenience of operation of the slider or other coupling device or-tool in opening and closing the closure.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view, in perspective, of a closure construction according to this invention as applied to a known type of tobacco hogshead, the closure being shown in open position and th parts of the hogshead disassembled;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the closure closed and the parts of the hogshead assembled a Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail, in perspective, of the hogshead illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on the line 5-! of Fig. 1:

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a former type of closure construction over which my invention is an improvement;

Fig. .7 is a fragmentary detail, in perspective, illustrating a preferred manner of attachment of the slide-fastened stringers to the hogshead staves, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, illustrating a modified form of attachment;

, bers Ii, a pair of complementary mats l2 and H Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail, in perspective. illustrating asecond modification; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, illustrating a third modification.

Formerly, in the construction of containers formed of relatively inflexible materials, it was believed to be necessary to secure together the relatively rigid members at opposite sides of a closure by mechanical, inflexible, though sometimes articulated, devices. Particular examples existed in packing cases, casks and hogheads constructed of relatively inflexible materials such as wood, plywood, or the like, encircled by tension wires or bands, which were secured together by riveting, twisting, by the provision of and loops receiving separate fastening means such as connectors each comprising a short length of wire extending in common through the two end loops of each wire and with its ends twisted upon themselves to complete the continuity of the tension wires, as well as by various other known connecting means.

Where such constructions were, utilized in a container such as the illustrated tobacco hogshead, it was necessary in disassembling the hogshead that a diflicult, inconvenient and time-consuming operation be performed on each wire, which operation was likewise necessary in, thereafter, re-assembiing the hogshead.

According to the principles of this invention, the above objects are achieved with obviation of the above-described disadvantages by the use of a pair of cooperating slide fastener stringers attached to substantially rigid members at opposite sides of a container closure opening and substantially coextensive with the length oi the opening. The term rigid" as herein used is relative, and the term rigid members" refers to members of wood, plywood, fiber board, composition board, and the like as distinguished from flexible tapes, leather, textile materials and the like, wherein no substantial difliculties of attachment of slide fasteners are encountered.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the illustrated container embodying the principles ofmy invention is a tobacco hogshead comprising generally a pair of similar and interchangeable head memforming the side walls of the container, and a pair of end hoops I5 extending about the end portions of the mats i2 and H and compressively retaining these end portions of the mats i2 and I4 flrmly a ainst the head members ii disposed therewithin.

Each mat comprises a plurality of staves It,

each of which is provided at opposite ends with an attached head retainer block 11 having grooves [1a. at each side for a purpose which will hereinafter more clearly appear. The staves iii of each mat are connected by a plurality of tenvsion wires I 8 which are secured thereto by staples l9.

As shown in Fig. 6, it was a prior practice to provide each tension wire l8 with loops l8a at each end and to connect these loops by means of a connector I90 comprising a short length of wiresimilar to the wire from which the tension wires 3 were formed, which connector member I80 was twisted upon itself at l8d, asshown in Fig. 6, to provide a continuation of the tension wires III of each mat in order that the tension wires I8 of each mat with their pair of connector members lBcshould form a closed loop'extending about the respective staves l6 of the mats forming the side walls of the hogshead.

According to this invention, the above-described structure of Fig. 6 is eliminated and the ends of the tension wires l8 are anchored to the end staves 16a of each mat in suitable manner and by suitable means as, for instance, by insertion through an aperture lfib provided in each end stave Ilia, the extremities lab of the tension wires l8 being bent over upon the inside of each end stave 16a, as shown in Figs. 4-and 5.

In this manner the mats l2 and H are formed as units comprising a plurality-of staves i6 se- The closure construction, at the opposite edges of the mats I2 and I4, is shown in Figs. 1, 2.and 4. This closure construction includes a pair of slide fastener stringers of conventional form each comprising a tape 25 having a reinforced edge 26, upon which is secured a row of predeterminedly spaced interlock fastener members 21. Each tape 25 may be provided with one part of a separating end fitting 28, as shown in Fig. 8, although it is preferable that this end fitting be eliminated, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, in order to obviate the necessity for complete alignment of the end staves and attached closure parts cured together by the substantially semi-circular tension wires I8 having their ends anchored to the end staves 16a of each mat, as described above. The tension wires 18 provide a relatively flexible connection between the staves of the tially circular member 20 having secured at one side an inwardly ofiset circular flange member 2i extending about the periphery and forming a peripheral step 22 which is adapted to be en.- gaged by the head retainer blocks l1 at each end of the respective staves l6, as shown in Fig. 3. The grooves l1a of the head retainer block l1 engage the outer surface of the flange 2| and enhance the gripping between the head retainer blocks l1 and the head members H in addition to making the side surfaces of the blocks l1 more nearly arcuate.

While it is preferable, in many casesjthat the mats l2 and I4 shall be independent of permanent attachment to one another, each mat having a slide fastener stringer at each side edge, in

order that they may be handled with greatest convenience, nevertheless they may be hingedly connected at one e'dge, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and detachably connected at the other edge by a slide fastener, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The hinge construction shown in Figs. 1 and 5 for which a second slide-fastened closure may a be substituted, as explained above, compriser'h wide hinge strip 23 of duck, canvas or other suitable strong flexible material disposed substantially centrally of the adjacent edges of the end staves I61: and secured to the end staves iBa by rows of stitching 24 extending through the hinged strip 23 and the staves lia, which staves are formed of wood, plywood, or the like, as described above. As the hinged strip is disposed outside the stave I 6a, the mats l2 and Il may be folded over upon one another with their outside surfaces together, for convenience in handling and shipp adjacent the closure of the container. 7

The tape 25 may be formed of a strip of strong flexible material of suificient width to permit the use of plural rows of heavy stitching substantially removed from the rows of fastener members 21, but I find it possible to use a slide fastener stringer of conventional narrow width by providing extensions 29 comprising strips of strong. flexible material such as duck or canvas secured to the stringer tapes 25 byrows of stitching 39, the outer edge portions of stringer tape extensions 29 being secured by rows of stitching 3| to the end staves l6a through which they extend. Those portions of the tape extensions 29 between 'the innermost row of stitching 3| and the interlocking fastener members 21, along with the stringer tapes 25, provide flexible supports for the rows of interlocking fastener members 21 which are unattached'to the underlying portions of the end staves No.

It is preferable that afastener member receiving channel be provided underlying the rows of fastener members and as shown in Fig. 4, each end'stave l6a may be provided at its edge with a groove 32 underlying the rows of interlocking fastener members 21, these grooves 32 being complementary to form a channel 33 underlying the rows of interlocking fastener members, whereby the fastener members are Permitted to move inwardly beyond the plane of the outer surfaces 7 of the end staves l6a upon encountering 'exterior forces or objects.

. In addition this channel facilitates slidinir movement of a slider 34 or other coupling device,

as shown in Fig. "I, longitudinally of the inter- I by the rows of stitching 3|, these rows of stitchfastening means, as shown in Fig. 8. Preferably where a separating end fitting 28 is provided at the lower ends of the stringer tapes 25, as shown in Fig. 8, the end portion of at least one of the strips 35 is mitered, as shown at 31, to provide ultimate flexibility adjacent the tape extension ends in order to facilitate manual access to the separating end fitting 29. As shown in Fig. 8, each tape extension 29 is provided at its outer edge with a marginal edge seam or hem formed by turning the edge portion of the strip over upon itself to form three plies united by a slide-fastened closure is closed line of stitching 42. These hems 4| abuttingly engage the outer edge of each inflexible strip 95.

If desired, a metallic channel member 39 provided with marginal flanges 39a may be substituted for the above-described strips 35, as shown in Fig. 9, the nails or other fastening means be ing inserted through the central portion of the channel 39 between the flanges 39a, which portion overlies the marginal side hem .4 I. Thus the marginal edge seam or hem 4| is confined be- ,tween and abuttingly engages the flanges 39a leaf tobacco under substantial compression.

Another satisfactory manner of attaching the stringer tape extensions 29 to the end staves lBa is illustrated in Fig. 10. This construction is similar, to that illustrated in Fig. 8, except that the end stave lia is provided with channels 43 and cooperating splines 44 of substantially complementary form, the attachment of the strips II by the nails 39 efiectively maintaining the splines in position, whereby they cooperate with the channels 43 effectively to clamp the tape extensions 29 against movement relative to the underlying supporting end staves 16a.

From the above description, it will clearly appear that I have provided a new and improved slide-fastened closure construction for containers such as shipping containers, hogsheads, etc.,

ewluch are constructed of relatively inflexible or substantially rigid materials and wherein the closure opening is of substantial length. An extreme example of the difficulties encountered in utilizing a flexible slidefastener in securing together relatively inflexible or substantially rigid closure defining members is found in the illustrated hogshead which is adapted to contain substantially one thousand pounds of leaf tobacco under substantial compression for long periods of storage.-- g

in the normal sequence of tobacco handling, the following steps are followed:

(1) Leaf tobacco is bought at auction rooms in baskets.

(2) The tobacco is transported in the baskets to a packing shed.

(3) A tobacco hogshead is set upwith one head removed to receive tobacco. (4) The tobacco is transferred from baskets to hogsheads, in which it is packed under hydraulic pressure. In small markets, hand presses are used instead of hydraulic presses. Each hogshead is completely closed by attachment of the top head, and the tobacco is ready for transportation.

(5) The hogshead, and the contained tobacco, is shipped to a tobacco re-drying plant.

(6) The slidefastener is opened and the hogshead stripped from the enclosed tobacco in the re-drying plant.

(7) Each "hand of tobacco removed from the stripped hogsheads is placed separately upon drying sticks which are carried by continous conveyors through conditioning machines, where the tobacco is first heated to drive oil. all moisture and then brought to uniform predetermined moisture content in the moisture chamber of the conditioning machine.

(8) The hogshead is re-assembled and the to prepare the hogshead for receiving conditioned tobacco.

(9) The conditioned tobacco is packed in the re-assembled hogshead under hydraulic pressure.

(10) The top head of the ;;hogshead is inserted and the end band placed over the staves completely to close the hogshead.

(11) The hogshead is placed in storage for a period of from two to four years.

(12) After the storage period, the hogsheads are removed from storage and taken to vacuum sweating machines in a stemmery.

(13) Each hogshead is cracked at the sides for ventilation by opening the slide-fastened 010- sure between the hogshead end staves without disturbing the heads and end bands.

(1 The cracked hogshead is put into a vac-- uum, machine where it is subjected to extreme vacuum, followed by injection of steam to soften and humidify the tobacco in the cracked hogshead.

(15) The hogshead is removed from the vacuum machine, stood on end and stripped from the steamed mass of tobacco by removal of the end bands, heads, and mats fromthe tobaccomass.

(16) The dis-assembled hogshead parts are removed in knock-down form for storage or reuse.

(17) The tobacco proceeds through the stemming machines where stems are removed and thence through various steps of cigarette manufacture, etc.

From the above summary, it will clearly appear that the slide-fastened closure is closed in stepli, then opened in step '6, thereafter closed in step 8, and then, again, opened in step 13. These four operations are each accomplished with great convenience and facility by a simple manual operation. In these operations, the interlocking fastener members 21 are twice coupled and twice uncoupled. Where the old construc tion of hogshead,as illustrated in Fig. 6, is used, it is necessary in each of the closing operations of steps 3 and 8 to insert between the loops Ila of each band I8, wire coupling members I80 which must be manually bent over at I8d. Thus, each closing pperation constitutes eight dimcult and time-consuming manual operations, the time element being far greater than that necessary for performing the closing operations of steps 3 and 8, where the slide-fastened closure construction of this invention is utilized in a hogshead construction. Likewise, in the accomplishment of the opening operation of steps 6 and 13, eight separate time-consuming manual operations must be accomplished where the old hogshead construction is used, as compared with a single, quick and easy operation where a hogshead is constructed according to this invention, which latter operation would consume less time than any of the other eight separate operations. Likewise, the opening and closing of the slide-fastened closure is accomplished without destruction of material such as wire,'and this feature alone is of considerable importance due to the high cost of wire suitable for forming the members lflc.

From the above description, it will clearly ap- I upon the mats.

Thereafter, conditioned tobacco may be repacked in the hogshead and the hogshead may be closed by inserting the second. or top, head and attaching the corresponding end hoop l5. Since the end hoops ll retain the ends of the fastener stringers together, accidental opening of fasteners is totally prevented, because the ends of the stringer tapes are thus securely clamped between the end hoops I5 and underlying staves i0 and effectively retained against separation, independently of stresses applied in the'tapes through the outward pressure applied by the enclosed tobacco It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merely illustrative and in n'owise limiting and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modiflcationsms are included within the scope of of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a container, a pair of substantially abutting rigid members defining opposite edges of a closure and forming a fastener member receiving channel, a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers including flexible tapes having thereon rows of spaced interlocking fastener members engageable and disengageable for connecting and disconnecting said stringers, ,a flexible tape extension on each of said stringer tapes comprising a flexible strip of relatively strong material flxed thereto, and means securing to said rigid members portions of said flexible tape extensions spaced from said rows of interlocking fastener members, said fastener member receiving channel underlying the connected rows of interlocking fastener members upon connection of said stringers to accommodate said fastener members while providing clearance for a slidable coupling device for connecting and disconnecting said stringers, said means securing said flexible tape extensions to said rigid members comprising strips of relatively inflexible material secured over the outer edge portions of said extensions and nails extending through said last-named strips through said extensions and into said rigid members.

2. ,In a container, 9. pair of substantially abutting rigid members defining opposite edges of a closure and forming a fastener member receiving channel, a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers includ'ng flexible tapes having thereon rows of spaced interlocking fastener members engageable and disengageable for connecting and disconnecting sa d stringers. a flexible tape extension on each of said stringer tapes comprising a flexible 'strip'of relatively strong material fixed thereto, and means securing to said rigid mam bGiS portions cf said flexible tape extensions spaced from said rows of interlocking fastener members. said fastener member receiving channel underlying the connected rows of interlocking fastener members upon connection of said stringers to accommodate said fastener members while providing clearance for a slidable coupling device for connecting and disconnecting said stringers, said meansjsecuring said .flexibletape extensions to said rigid members comprising a hem atthe outer edge of each tape extension, a metallic channel member, overlying each flexible tape extension,

' said channel member having inwardly extending flanges at each edge engaging underlying tape ex- 4 tension, one of said flanges abutting said hem,

and fastening means projecting through the offset portions of said metallic channel members intermediatesaid inwardly extending flanges, said fastening means extending inwardly through said flexible tape extensions and into said rigid memhers.

4 3. In a container of the class described, a pair of rigid end members, a mat extensible about said and members and comprising a plurality of rigid longitudinal members and tension wires disposed transversely of said longitudinal members and connecting said members, said tension wires being anchored to the rigid members at each end of said mat and said last-named rigid mat members deflning a closure opening, and a pair of cooperating slide fastener stringers each attached to one of said last-named rigid mat end members and connectible to close said closure opening and retain said mat about said first-named rigid end members.

4. In a tobacco hogshead, a pair of circular head members, a ,pair of complementary mats forming the side walls of said hogshead, each of said mats comprising a plurality of staves connected by tension wires anchored to the end staves of said mats, and slide-fastened closure means detachably connecting adjacent'edges of said mats, said slide-fastened closure means comprising a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers including flexible tapes having thereon rows of spaced interlocking fastener members engageable and disengageable for connecting and disconnecting said stringers, a flexible tape ex- ,tension on each of said stringer tapes comprising a flexible strip of relatively strong material flxed thereto, and rows of stitching extending through said flexible tape extensions and the underlying staves to secure to said staves portions or said flexible tape extensions spaced from said rows of interlocking fastener members.

5. In a tobacco hogshead, a pair of circular head members. a pair of complementary mats forming the side walls of said hogshead, each of said mats comprising a plurality of staves connected by tension wires anchored to the end staves of said mats, and slide-fastened closure means detachably connecting adjacent edges of said mats, said slide-fastened closure means comprising a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers including flexible tapes having thereon rows of maced interlocking fastener members engageable and disengageable for connecting and disconnecting. said stringers, a flexible stringer through said tape extensions and into the underlying staves.

6. In a tobacco hogshead, a pair of circular head members, a pair of complementary mats forming the side walls of said hogshead, each of said mats comprising a plurality of staves connected by tension wires anchored to the end staves of said mats, and slide-fastened closure means detachably connecting adJacent edges of said mats, said slide-fastened closure means comprising a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers including flexible tapes having thereon rows of spaced interlocking fastener members engageable and disengageable for connecting and disconnecting said stringers, a flexible stringer tape extension on each of said stringer tapes comprising a strip of strong flexible material stitched thereto with cooperating parts of a separable end fitting at the lower end of said rows of fastener members, and means securing to a pair of said end staves portions of said flexible tape extensions spaced from rows of interlocking fastener members and comprising strips of relatively inflexible material secured over the outer edge portions of said extensions, and staggered nails extending through said last-named strips, through said tape extensions and into the underlying staves, one of said last-named strips having a cutaway lower end portion affording access to said separable end fitting.

7. In a tobacco hogshead, a pair of circular head members, a pair of complementary mats forming the side walls of said hogshead, each of said mats comprising a plurality -of staves connected by tension wires anchored to the end staves of said mats, and slide-fastened closure means detachably connecting adjacent edges of said mats, said slide-fastened closure means comprising a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers including flexible tapes having thereon rows of spaced interlocking fastener members engageabie and disengageable for connecting and disconnecting said stringers, stringer tape extensions of strong flexible material extending laterally from said tapes and stitched thereto, and means securing to the underlying staves portions of said flexible tape extensions spaced from rows ofinterlocking fastener members and each comprising a hem at the outer edge of each tape extension, a

metallic channel member overlying each tape extension, said channel member having inwardly extending flanges at each edge engaging the underlying tape extension and said flanges straddling and abutting said hem, and fastening means projecting through the oflset intermediate portion of each of said metallic channel members and extending inwardly through the hems oi the flexible tape extensions and into the underlying staves.

8. In a tobacco hogshead, a pair of circular head members, a pair of complementary mats forming the side walls of said hogshead, means detachably connectingsaid mats to encircle said circular head members including a pair of complementary slide fastener stringers secured to adjacent edges of said mats and connectible for securing said edges together, and end hoops encircling the end portions of the mats adjacent the head members and fixedly clamping the end portions of the fastener stringers between said end hoops and the end portions of said mats for retaining them against accidental separation.

NEIL A. FOWLER. 

